January 2012

Christmas Greetings to One and All!

Normally I take the time to write a Christmas letter after the season. Lot less confusing at this time and, plus, I get a better idea as to what to write since I have received a number a letters during the Christmas season. However, sometimes I don't get this letter out until Easter or even one year, the 4th of July!!!!!! And, I believe I didn't get this letter out at all some years! I used to be good about writing this letter, but, in retirement, I seem to have slacked off quite a bit!

I moved to Laguna Woods in 2004 and this is the first time since moving in here that I had most of my family with me on Christmas Eve. Todd and Judie were here from Washington and Aaron and Marina were here from San Pedro. Britt, Doug, Ben and John were not here since they already had a trip down here for Aaron and Marina's wedding in September. Todd requested the menu for the Christmas Eve dinner: Rib-eyes from COSTCO! And Todd made the lobster béarnaise sauce to go with them with asparagus! Do I really need to tell you how good they were?

And, since Aaron has chewed me out for not having a tree in past years, I actually had a tree this year–even though it was fake.

This was an extremely busy year! Besides my going to Bellingham May - August and the Wedding in September in California, most of the family went to Europe for two family reunions.

We went to Copenhagen for a reunion of my mother's side of the family and after this reunion we went we went to Germany for a reunion of my father's side of the family.

In Copenhagen we were able to see the birthplace of my mother (owned at that time by our family but which is now a Muslim retreat center) and several castles. A wonderful reunion dinner for about 20 of us. My cousin in Copenhagen found a wonderful place for a private dinner and set up the whole dinner and tourist activities for us. There were 10 of us from the U.S. for this reunion. Also spent one evening at Tivoli.

The Germany reunion was held in the town of “Zersen” about 30km south of Hannover. “Zersen” may have about 300 people currently living in it.

Some 38 Zersens from the U.S. attended along with some 45 German Zersens who most of us had never met. We took over the Pappmuehle–a guest house (the only one in the town) where most of the U.S. Zersens stayed. The Zersens go back to at least the year 1100 and perhaps even 800 when Charlemagne came through and forcefully converted the Zersens to Christianity. If you want to know more about the Zersen family and history, go to our web site: www.zersen.net. All sorts of info there.

Touring the German countryside we even met the Pied Piper in Hameln. And, the story about the 130 or so missing children just happens to be true. The town never knew what happened to them back in the 13th century.

Included in our tourist activities was to visit the church that was initially built in about 1050 where the baptisms, confirmations and deaths of our ancestors were celebrated. We also took a luncheon cruise on the Weser River. But most of the time we spent at the Pappmuehle where we all ate and had different family activities. Oldest person there was 87 and the youngest less than one year old. Five (5) generations were in attendance. We can currently trace our Zersen heritage back to Cord Zersen in the early 1600's. Our next reunion is currently set up to be in Chicago in 2014. Hopefully many more of the U.S. Zersens will attend this reunion.

Early last year, Todd sold his house in Mount Vernon and was looking to purchase something in Anacortes. He found a duplex in Anacortes and moved in there in August/September. It is much closer to his work as a Chief Mate on the Washington State Ferry System. However, due to a lack of seniority, he doesn't always get to work as a mate but must work in his lower pay grade.

Britt, Doug, Ben and John are doing great in Bellingham. Their house is on the hillside overlooking Lake Samish. Doug works for Western Washington University as an engineer in their power plant. Ben turned 13 a couple of months ago and is already as tall as I am–he loves basketball! John will turn 10 this coming summer. Both boys are really into Chess!

Aaron and Marina still live in San Pedro. Aaron works in the harbor for a company that offloads the big ships and has a union crew working for him–although Aaron is not union. Marina is a mortgage loan specialist and is currently working on dropping my mortgage to 3.75%!

Things here in Laguna Woods keep me busy. Typically golf and bridge every week and special entertainment during the year (Diamonds, Coasters and Tokens last year) to include a symphony and other classical music. My condo 6-plex also gets together every week or so for hors d'oeuvres and drinks. On New Year's Eve we had our annual Dinner/Dance that featured a 10 piece big band playing “Big Band Music.” This clubhouse (we have 7) sat 300 for dinner to include a large ballroom dance floor. Actually seats about 450 without the dance floor.

But, I think it is time for me to go before you get excessively bored! Have a wonderful New Years! May the Lord Bless you and yours in whatever endeavor He has set up for you to accomplish in this coming year!